Attend lectures at Emerson Center to find out about latest Old Vero Man site discoveries

Archaeology crews are back for a fourth year at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach, and hope to reveal more of the 13,000-year-old bison bones uncovered last season.
PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM

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Some of the Old Vero Man archaeological discoveries will be revealed to locals during two lectures by principal investigator James Adovasio at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Emerson Center. The last dig ended in 2017.(Photo11: PATRICK DOVE/TCPALM)Buy Photo

VERO BEACH— It’s been more than four years since the archaeological dig along Aviation Road began and now investigators are unraveling its secrets.

During the four dig seasons at the Old Vero Man site, volunteers, students and visitors from across the United States and the world painstakingly removed tons of dirt and screened its contents, hoping to unlock the history of man since the last Ice Age.

Some of those discoveries will be revealed during two lectures by principal investigator James Adovasio at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 7 at the Emerson Center.

“From the beginning, Vero was one of the more infamous archaeological sites in North America because it was seen as such a threat to the then perceived wisdom that no humans had lived here during the last Ice Age,” Adovasio said. “But because of the phenomenal preservation of Ice Age plant and animal materials at the site, this new excavation will serve to illuminate a time frame in the American Southeast that no other site can.”

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Excavation at the Old Vero Man dig site is now in its fourth year as archaeology crews continue to find artifacts of ancient animals. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of ancient bison bone was found that's believed to be about 13,000 years old. "Over the last month, we've found as much, if not more, bone than we did at the end of last season," said Dr. Andy Hemmings, lead on-site archaeologist. "We're getting closer to where we are expecting to find a bulk of material, but we're still a few inches above." The crew, on Thursday, was in the process of exposing the 13,000-year-old floor to get an overall view of what was happening at that period of time. The story the artifacts tell can change in a day. "A few days ago, it happened on the daily tour while we were standing there talking. Excavators in three units in a line found eight pieces of bone," Hemmings said. "This is why we're all excited and abuzz to figure these things out." Tours are offered free to the public at 1 p.m. Thursday through Monday. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

Archaeologists are continuing to find more bone fragments of long extinct animals at the Old Vero Man dig site as the initiative enters into it's fourth year. At the end of last year's digging season, a piece of bone believed to be that of an extinct bison was found and dated to about 13,000-years-old. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

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The archaeologists involved in the Old Vero Man excavation site were seeking answers to many questions, including what Vero Beach was like 100 years ago.

The dig site, near Vero Beach Regional Airport along the Main Relief Canal, could be one of the most important ice age historical sites in the world. In 1915, a fossilized skeleton was found there, possibly the oldest human remains found in North America. Remains of extinct animals — including a mammoth, mastodon, saber-toothed cat, and ancient species of tapir, horse and sloth — also have been found.

Adovasio’s lectures in Vero Beach are a prelude to his presentations during the 83rd annual meeting of the Society of American Archaeology April 11 to 15 in Washington, D.C. More than 3,000 archaeologists will gather to learn more information about recent discoveries throughout the world, including some of the Old Vero Man site excavation findings.

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With the start of the new digging season, the archeological crew builds the tent covering the main dig area at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. At the end of last season, a bone believed to be that of an ancient bison was discovered. "We had just ten days of digging left (last year) when we found the first two slivers of bone," said Dr. Andy Hemmings, lead archeologist at the site. "Our first day this year should be as good as our best day last year." PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

A new digging season is starting up again at the Old Vero Man dig site in Vero Beach. At the end of last year, the crew found what they believe to be a bone from an ancient bison. PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

The Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee, which was founded in 2010, remains committed to the project, Chairman Randy Old said.

“We have taken a year off so we can record and write-up the information about what has already been found,” Old said. “In the future, we are considering 16 other potential sites in Vero Beach that have potential for discovery and once we decide the area, we’ll start fundraising for an excavation.”

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Richie Rosencrance, an archaeologist with Florida Atlantic University, stands over several artifacts covered with aluminum and plastic in the main excavation pit Tuesday at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists have found what they believe to be bones from an extinct species of bison, like 13,000 to 14,000 years old. The discovery was made just as the 2016 digging season is coming to a close. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Dave Hawkins, a volunteer at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach, looks through a loupe at artifacts found by sifting through buckets of dirt on Tuesday. 'I come out here everyday they're open and volunteer my time,' Hawkins said. 'After I retired from Disney I needed something to do and I found out I enjoyed digging in the dirt.' (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

Images from the excavation at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach. Archeologists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have discovered what they believe are bones from an extinct species of bison, likely 13,000 to 14,000 years old. (PATRICK DOVE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)